Salem High’s Beauty and the Beast

by Robyn Hatch

Rehearsal

Beauty and the Beast was shown to sell-out crowds on November 29 through December 1 at the Seifert Auditorium in Salem High School. Under the direction of Ms. Kathlees Dacy, the students worked on the production for close to three months, with practices a couple days a week after school.

It had very high energy, beautiful costumes, colorful props and the excitement of the orchestra with show-stopping music.

Holiday Spirit at Tree Lighting

Haigh singers

On a very chilly night, November 29, the Salem Christmas tree was lighted in Veterans Park with a large turnout. Young and old ventured to hear and see the Haigh School third-graders participate in the traditional tree lighting filled with songs, a few speakers and much cheer and holiday spirit.

Kids Art Show at Kelley Library

First place, “Still Life With Fruit,” Isabella Thibodeau, fifth grade, North Salem

While the Greater Salem Artists Association was having a big show recently at Kelley Library, the downstairs entrance displayed works by Salem schoolchildren, organized by art teachers from the lower grades. These pieces were juried and put out to be displayed, much like the big show in the other room.

Rail Line Could Help Relieve I-93 Traffic

by Judy Wakefield

Construction has begun as New Hampshire starts to double the width of Interstate-93 in Salem, from two lanes to four.

An update on commuter parking lots at exits 2, 4 and 5 was discussed briefly by state officials on Wednesday, November 28, at a session in Salem. In addition, safety improvements should be complete by August, 2008 at exit 3 in Windham and exit 5 in Londonderry, officials said.

Traffic has grown considerably over the past several years on the southern stretch of the busy highway. Once-rural Salem now is a commuter suburb for Boston while its sales tax-free status makes it a shopper’s paradise on weekends.

More transportation changes are planned for ever-growing southern New Hampshire and state officials recently were in town to discuss those plans.

Representatives from the Department of Transportation (DOT) were at Salem High School to lay out preliminary plans before an audience of about 50 people. The DOT officials stressed that none of the discussed options has been approved. The goal is to reduce dependency on cars and to let the public know that DOT is looking at traffic congestion in the Salem area.

The highlight of the discussion was the idea of returning the Manchester-to-Lawrence railroad line, the M&L. Property owners along the covered rails have been researched as the state believes reviving the M&L is a good idea. They see rail riders keeping cars off I-93 and commuting to Boston on the M&L.

Lawrence is on Boston’s MBTA railroad line. The M&L would have a station on Essex Street, not at Lawrence’s existing station. The M&L revival cost about $168 million, with federal dollars could help pay for the revival project.

Allowing commuter buses to use the shoulder or breakdown lanes of I-93 also was discussed. When people in the audience pointed out that the breakdown lanes are used during peak commuter times in Massachusetts, DOT officials said they were aware of that and could not force their neighbors to make changes on I-93. They said they can only hope Massachusetts would go along with any new transportation plan.

Building a commuter bus lane in the median of the highway also was mentioned. With a price tag of $160 million to $190 million, it would cost more than the M&L revival, officials said.